Michael James Bennett – författare

In 1988 the philosopher Gilles Deleuze remarked that, throughout his career, he had always been 'circling around' a concept of nature. Providing critical analysis of his highly original readings of Stoicism, Aristotle, and Epicurus, this book shows that it is Deleuze's interpretations of ancient Greek physics that provide the key to understanding his conception of nature.Using the works of Aristotle, Plato, Chrysippus, and Epicurus, Michael Bennett traces the development of Deleuze’s key concepts of event, difference, and problem. Arguing that it is difficult, if not impossible, to fully understand these ideas without an appreciation of Deleuze's Hellenistic influences, Deleuze and Ancient Greek Physics situates his commentaries in the context of contemporary scholarship on ancient Greek philosophy. Delving into the original Greek and Latin texts, this book shows that Deleuze’s readings are more complex and controversial than they first appear, simultaneously advancing Deleuze as a new voice in interpretations of ancient Greek philosophy. Generating both new critical analyses of Deleuze and a new appreciation for his classical erudition, Deleuze and Ancient Greek Physics will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in ancient Greek philosophy, Deleuze’s philosophical project or his unique methodology in the history of philosophy.

In 1988 the philosopher Gilles Deleuze remarked that, throughout his career, he had always been 'circling around' a concept of nature. Providing critical analysis of his highly original readings of Stoicism, Aristotle, and Epicurus, this book shows that it is Deleuze's interpretations of ancient Greek physics that provide the key to understanding his conception of nature.Using the works of Aristotle, Plato, Chrysippus, and Epicurus, Michael Bennett traces the development of Deleuze’s key concepts of event, difference, and problem. Arguing that it is difficult, if not impossible, to fully understand these ideas without an appreciation of Deleuze's Hellenistic influences, Deleuze and Ancient Greek Physics situates his commentaries in the context of contemporary scholarship on ancient Greek philosophy. Delving into the original Greek and Latin texts, this book shows that Deleuze’s readings are more complex and controversial than they first appear, simultaneously advancing Deleuze as a new voice in interpretations of ancient Greek philosophy. Generating both new critical analyses of Deleuze and a new appreciation for his classical erudition, Deleuze and Ancient Greek Physics will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in ancient Greek philosophy, Deleuze’s philosophical project or his unique methodology in the history of philosophy.

In 1988 the philosopher Gilles Deleuze remarked that, throughout his career, he had always been ''circling around'' a concept of nature. Providing critical analysis of his highly original readings of Stoicism, Aristotle, and Epicurus, this book shows that it is Deleuze''s interpretations of ancient Greek physics that provide the key to understanding his conception of nature.Using the works of Aristotle, Plato, Chrysippus, and Epicurus, Michael Bennett traces the development of Deleuze''s key concepts of event, difference, and problem. Arguing that it is difficult, if not impossible, to fully understand these ideas without an appreciation of Deleuze''s Hellenistic influences, Deleuze and Ancient Greek Physics situates his commentaries in the context of contemporary scholarship on ancient Greek philosophy. Delving into the original Greek and Latin texts, this book shows that Deleuze''s readings are more complex and controversial than they first appear, simultaneously advancing Deleuze as a new voice in interpretations of ancient Greek philosophy. Generating both new critical analyses of Deleuze and a new appreciation for his classical erudition, Deleuze and Ancient Greek Physics will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in ancient Greek philosophy, Deleuze''s philosophical project or his unique methodology in the history of philosophy.

In 1988 the philosopher Gilles Deleuze remarked that, throughout his career, he had always been ''circling around'' a concept of nature. Providing critical analysis of his highly original readings of Stoicism, Aristotle, and Epicurus, this book shows that it is Deleuze''s interpretations of ancient Greek physics that provide the key to understanding his conception of nature.Using the works of Aristotle, Plato, Chrysippus, and Epicurus, Michael Bennett traces the development of Deleuze''s key concepts of event, difference, and problem. Arguing that it is difficult, if not impossible, to fully understand these ideas without an appreciation of Deleuze''s Hellenistic influences, Deleuze and Ancient Greek Physics situates his commentaries in the context of contemporary scholarship on ancient Greek philosophy. Delving into the original Greek and Latin texts, this book shows that Deleuze''s readings are more complex and controversial than they first appear, simultaneously advancing Deleuze as a new voice in interpretations of ancient Greek philosophy. Generating both new critical analyses of Deleuze and a new appreciation for his classical erudition, Deleuze and Ancient Greek Physics will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in ancient Greek philosophy, Deleuze''s philosophical project or his unique methodology in the history of philosophy.

Deleuze and Evolutionary Theory' gathers together contributions by many of the central theorists in Deleuze studies who have led the way in breaking down the boundaries between philosophical and biological research. They focus on the significance of Deleuze and Guattari’s engagements with evolutionary theory across the full range of their work, from the interpretation of Darwin in 'Difference and Repetition', to the symbiotic alliances of wasp and orchid in 'A Thousand Plateaus'. In this way, they explore the anthropological, social and biopolitical significance of the convergences and divergences between philosophy and evolutionary science.

This book critically examines recent interpretations of the Roman poet Lucretius by contemporary materialists. Inspired by his vision of matter in motion and the generativity of nature, political theorists, literary scholars and process philosophers today attribute ideas to Lucretius that anticipate their own innovative work in their respective fields. What should we make of this phenomenon? Why does Lucretius feature so prominently in recent materialisms, and what justifies treating him as a precursor or ancient double?The New Lucretians, Contemporary Materialism and Historical Method focuses on four thinkers—Vittorio Morfino, Jacques Lezra, Jane Bennett, and Thomas Nail—and places them in a genealogy of interpreters going back over a century in spiritualist philosophy, poststructuralism, Marxism, and science studies. It also reflects on questions of historical method, testing how well various historiographic approaches fit their work and justify their use of Lucretius. These include approaches the new Lucretians explicitly endorse—such as radical ideas about nonlinear history and translation—and others that they do not—such as Straussian reading between the lines, motivated reasoning, analytic rational reconstruction, and creative experimentation with canons of philosophical heroes. It is essential reading for all scholars, researchers and advanced students interested in forging links between contemporary and ancient philosophy and balancing the risks of that endeavour with its promises.